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January 15, 1718 -

Ice from the rivers in Schenectady had disappeared and the frost was out of the ground. The weather is like spring.

January 29, 1727 - Ice Jams in New York

Ice Jams in New York created an ice bridge from New York to Long Island. (The New York Gazette)

March 3, 1729

Fort of Albany set on fire my miscreants (the New York Gazette)

December 19, 1737 - NYC earthquake

NYC witnessed a 5.2 magnitude earthquake that knocked down chimneys, according to Columbia University. National Museum of American History

August 30, 1776 - Heavy Fog

A heavy fog descended on Brooklyn, concealing Washington’s troops. The fog hung around for just enough time that the rear guard was able to get in boats leave Brooklyn. As the final boats departed Brooklyn, the fog lifted and within a matter of minutes, British troops advanced into the now deserted American lines.

20 September 1776 -  The Great Fire

A fire broke out in Manhattan’s Fighting Cocks Tavern. By the time the blaze was extinguished, some 500 buildings had been destroyed, amounting to roughly a quarter of the city.

1779 - Blizzard

North America was experiencing colder than average winters which produced many blizzards during this time. New York harbor froze over with ice so thick that British soldiers stationed there were able to march from Manhattan to Staten Island.  That winter that some British sentries froze to death at their posts.

January 22, 1718 -

Severe cold weather set in, and the rivers were once again filled with ice.

29 November 1783 - A magnitude 5.3 earthquake

A magnitude 5.3 earthquake,  originating in New Jersey, hit New York and Philadelphia. The earthquake was preceded by a magnitude 4.65 foreshock at around 9 pm EST time and a less severe aftershock afterwards. According to ESGS many citizens ran outdoors as heavy furniture moved, plaster and chimney's cracked.

March 15, 1784 - The Ice Flood

In a memorandum on file, Robert Martin and John Franklin state that the Susquehanna "rose to a flood exceeding all degrees ever known. The flood was so sudden that it gave no time to guard against the mischief". It swept away 150 homes and 1000 persons were left destitute.

September 23, 1785

A tropical cyclone created powerful waves which made several large ships to crash into Governors Island.

1786 - "The Pumpkin Flood"

The freshet known as “The Pumpkin Flood”  caused heavy property loss in the Southern Tier Central Region of New York (Chemung, Schuyler, and Steuben Counties). The flood got its name from the large number of pumpkins that were pulled from their vines by the swift waters and carried down the Susquehanna River.

May 18, 1791 - Severe shocks

Severe shocks from Boston to New York; some damage, ground clefts.

June 19, 1794 - Tornadoes

Tornadoes in Pennsylvania, Connecticut and New York. Buildings and trees destroyed.

June 19, 1796 - Plunderers sets City on Fire. 

Charleston, NY. Piece of burning coal done up in a greasy paper was thrown into a loft where hay and other combustibles were. Men responsible tried to make their escape. (The Otsego Herald).

November 19, 1798 - The’ Long Storm'

A Blizzard, The’ Long Storm' created deep snow from Maryland to Maine.